NewsPhysics

The ozone hole over Antarctica has reached its 2026 maximum extent, ranking as the seventh largest recorded in the 48 years of continuous monitoring of the phenomenon. According to the tracking data, the affected area is among the widest in the historical record, although the ozone loss has not been as deep as that observed in other episodes of large extent.

The distinction between extent and depth is key to interpreting the behaviour of the ozone layer. A wide hole does not necessarily imply more intense destruction of the stratospheric gas: the affected surface area and the amount of ozone lost are independent metrics, and this year combines an elevated extent with a relatively less severe ozone depletion than in the largest holes on record.

“The ozone hole over Antarctica has reached its 2026 maximum extent, ranking as the seventh largest recorded in the 48 years of continuous monitoring of the phenomenon.”